Metropolitan State University celebrates 10 years of the Denver Food and Wine Festival with events all over downtown beginning Wednesday, September 3.  The fun culminates on Saturday, September 6, with the Grand Tasting Event on the MSU campus.

The week kicks off with the Riedel Glass Seminar on September 3. Riedel will show guests over 250 years of glassmaking skill. Learn how wine flavors and aromas are enhanced by glass shape and design. Cost is $75 per person and all attendees receive a set of four Riedel Vinum XL glasses (a $120 value). 

Get out your island gear at the Tiki Tiki Tiki Cocktail & Patio Bite Competition on Thursday, September 4. Denver’s best bartenders will compete for the Best Tiki Cocktail while chefs compete for the Best Patio Bite. The guests get to sample the results and join in the voting. The Exdo Event Center will be turned into the RiNo Beach Club for the night complete with sand and cabanas. Island attire is encouraged (can you say costume contest?). Cost is $50 per person and starts at 6 PM. 

On Friday, September 5, head over to Humboldt restaurant for a wine dinner created by Executive Chef DJ Nagle and paired with wines selected by Master Sommeliers Jay Fletcher and Damon Ornowski. Wining and dining costs $75 per person and starts at 6 PM.

On Saturday, September 6, is the big event. The Grand Tasting will be held at the university. Enjoy foods from over 30 of Denver’s best restaurants and sip wines and spirits from over 800 wine and spirits purveyors. Vineyards and spirits include Cupcake, Truck, Perfect Mix and Beam Suntory. The VIP Lounge will be specially catered by Farm to Fork restaurants TAG, ChoLon, Luca d’Italia, Avenue Grill, Trillium, Barolo Grill and Humboldt. There will also be culinary demonstrations by top Denver Chefs Troy Gard, Ian Kleinman and Amy Sayles. The event is from 1 to 4 PM at the MSU Auraria Campus at 7^th and Lawrence Way. General Admission is $95 per person and First Tasting admission (starting at Noon) is $125 per person. VIP Lounge admission is $250 per person. Proceeds will benefit Metropolitan State University Athletics, the MSU Department of Hospitality and Tourism, The Denver Post Community Foundation and The Colorado Restaurant Association Education Foundation.

To learn more or to buy tickets, visit the Denver Food and Wine website. 

Event Date: 09/03,09/04,09/05,09/06
Event Time: 4-5 PM
Location: Metropolitan State University, Auraria Campus
Price: varies
Type: Cocktails,Dinner,Festival,Food,Parties,Wine
Website: denverfoodandwine.com/